Hi geting dark hear too,been out puting bubble wrap on strawberry plants, only put them in the baskets yesterday and a heavy frost hear tonight, it's notcheep is it at £10.80 for three yards' newspaper next time, like the tramps use. just thoring out , put tree no six in today, and yesterday I sent for two more so I am going to have to start diging,

Dear Guest.
May I put in my 4 penny worth. Lady Boothby is NOT a climbing fuchsia.
It has been miss-advertised heavily this year as a climber mainly by the Daily Express and also by some nurseries that should know better.
It is a tall vigorous fuchsia that will grow 4-5 ft in a good season but that's about it. It will never grow much taller and will be cut back to ground level by a hard frost in the winter just like all other hardy fuchsias.
Sorry to go on but this is one of my grumpy old man things for this year. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CLIMBING FUCHSIA.
As regards pruning, as with all hardy fuchsias Lady Boothby will be hit by frost. Some milder years I have had a few leaves left on and other years she will die back to the ground. Don't touch fuchsias during winter but wait 'til spring and prune the dead wood back to a live bit of stem. In other words just tidy the plant up in spring cutting out dead wood. Fuchsias are very forgiving and will thrive even if cut right back to the ground each year.
PS. I personally prefer Mrs. Popple to Lady Boothby. Just as vigorous, totally hardy and with more attractive flowers.

I agree that it is not a climber in the true sense but it will support itself when the stems grow up through trellis or netting. The first year i grew it it got to 4ft. the winter knocked it back to about 2ft and then this year it is baout 51/2 ft tall.
i have mine in quite deep shade so the colours are delightfull.

Hi there - might as well throw in my twopence worth!!
The short answer to your question, Guest - is DON'T PRUNE now!!
As most people have said - the weather will prune it for you at this point as you are far too late. Lady B is a tough old bird and will survive nicely where ever you have her. Mine have grown to 12 and 14 feet this year - up through a trellis and made it to the eaves of the house....but technically she is NOT a climber....but loves something to grow through...like a trellis or hedge...as the growth is VERY straight and long and brittle. Leave her to her own devices and she will reappear next year - THEN prune her to what YOU want!!!
Good luck.